Water control device for offset lithographic printing presses

ABSTRACT

A device for use on an offset lithographic printing press, having a plate cylinder and a water cylinder from which water from a cooperable supply is to be transferred to the plate cylinder, to control the amount of water on the water cylinder, comprising a plurality of pliable rubber-like members disposed in a row in side-by-side relation and arranged to engage the face of the water cylinder substantially throughout its operative length and provided with manually adjustable means whereby the squeegee action of the respective members may be individually determined to effect a desired control of the amount of water on the face of the cylinder, the device readily being constructed for attachment to existing presses, as well as incorporated in new presses.

United States Patent Malek Dec. 23, 1975 WATER CONTROL DEVICE FOR OFFSET3,122,767 3/1964 Carvill 101/425 LITHOGRAPHIC PRINTING PRESSES 3,166,4871/ 1965 Owren 101/148 X 3,312,166 4/1967 Gentile 101/365 X [76]inventor: Theodore C. Malek, 390 We Go 3,556,008 1 1971 Branfield101/365 x Court, Deerfield, 111. 60015 3,730,090 5/1973 Lamberg 101/365[22] Filed: May 2, 1974 Primary ExaminerEdgar S. Burr 1 1 pp N03 466,135Assistant ExaminerPaul J. Hirsch Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Hill, Gross,Simpson, Van 52 US. (:1 101/148; 101/365 Same", Steadman Chlara &SImPso" [51] Int. Cl. B41L 25/02; B41F 7/24 [58] Field of Search101/365, 425, 148, 364, [57] ABSTRACT 101/367 147 A device for use on anoffset lithographic printing [56] References Cited press, having a platecy11nder and a water cylinder from which water from a cooperable supplyis to be UNITED STATES PATENTS transferred to the plate cylinder, tocontrol the 1,736,941 11/1929 Schroeder 101/365 amount of water on thewater cylinder, comprising a 7 9 1929 101/365 plurality of pliablerubber-like members disposed in a Z; 2 5 row in side-by-side relationand arranged to engage an oner.... 2,042,943 6/1936 Hoyle u 101B theface of the water cylinder substan tlally throughout 2062 154 [1936 Wits operatlve length and provided with manually adelk..... lOl/3652,161,943 6/1939 Baue 101/365 Jumble means whereby the sql le egee actlo2,477,141 7/1949 Pollock 101/365 spectlve mfifmbers may be mdlvlduallydetermmed 2,655,104 10/1953 Jobb 101 3 5 effect a deslred control of theamount of water on the 2,691,344 10/1954 McMul1en..... 101/425 face ofthe cylinder, the device readily being con- ,8 6/1958 Dougan 101/365structed for attachment to existing presses, as well as 2,853,005 9/1958Worthington 101/365 incorporated new presses 2,915,007 12/1959 Johnsonet a1... 101/148 3,010,393 ll/l96l Worthington 101/425 X 8 Claims, 2Drawing Figures /Z ii f: E BEE-E1 US. Patent Dec. 23, 1975 WATER CONTROLDEVICE FOR OFFSET LITIIOGRAPI-IIC PRINTING PRESSES BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION The invention is directed to apparatus which may be attachedto or incorporated in an offset lithographic press for controlling theapplication of water to the printing cylinder prior to the reception ofthe printing ink thereon.

It is particularly desirable in presses of this type that the moisturetransferred to the printing cylinder be substantially uniformly appliedwhereby spotting with insufficient or too much water is prevented.

Various types of so-called water checks, or squeegee devices, have beenemployed with the water cylinder of such a press which involved, forexample, disposition of a suitable member'extending continuously alongthe water roller in axial direction and bearing on the surface of thecylinder for removing excess water therefrom.

However, oftentimes the surface of the water cylinder may have an areaor areas which has picked up oil or greasy material, for examplepossibly from the ink employed, whereby such area or areas will not pickup water to the same extent as that of the remaining area of thecylinder. In many cases, it has been found necessary to stop the pressand clean the cylinder surface in order to eliminate the problem. Wherea continuous or substantially continuous structure is employed, suchcleaning operation is normally the only solution to the problem as thereis no way in which a selective control of the amount of water on thecylinder may be achieved.

The present invention thus is directed to the solution to this problem,enabling the press operator to readily compensate for surface variationson the water cylinder without stopping the press or effecting a cleaningoperation on the cylinder.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The desired results are achieved in thepresent invention by providing a structure in which of the amount ofwater on the water cylinder may be selectively and adjustably controlledat a plurality of points along the cylinder surface, whereby specialvery fine, micrometer-type adjustment may be effected at any desiredlocation to compensate for specific conditions thereat.

The structure of the invention comprises a-plurality of individuallycontrollable more or less resilient sheetlike members having free edgeswhich may bear upon the surface of the water cylinder to provide asqueegee action thereon with respect to excess water on the face of thecylinder. Each of the individual members may be independently adjustedas to its bearing pressure on the cylinder whereby the amount of waterretained on the cylinder may be selectively and independently adjustedalong the entire face of the cylinder.

The mounting of the structure may vary with the press construction, andin the embodiment the invention illustrated, each of the resilientsqueegee members are supported from a longitudinally extendingsupporting bar by means of respective resilient metallic elements, eachof which is firmly connected to the supporting bar at one end andcarries the resilient squeegee member at the opposite end thereof;Suitable means is provided for effecting in simple manner a manualadjustment by means of which pressure may be exerted on the individualsqueegee members to control the pressure exerted thereby on the surfaceof the cylinder. In the embodiment the invention illustrated, suchadjusting means comprises a knob having a threaded stern which isthreaded into a part of the supporting structure whereby tension may beapplied, to the squeegee assembly or relieved therefrom by rotating theknob in appropriate direction.

The press operator thus may readily finely and accurately adjust therespective squeegee members, while the press is in operation, merely byrotating the desired knob or knobs in directions adapted to provide thedesired action, either increasing or decreasing the pressure of theresilient members on the surface of the water cylinder and thus theamount of water thereon.

Means are also provided for mounting the control device on the pressstructure, for example on the edge of the water supply tray associatedwith the water cylinder, with the control device readily being adaptedto be constructed as an attachment to existing presses, whereby theadvantages of the present invention may be achieved with older presses.

The control device preferably is constructed of materials having highresistance to any materials with which they may come in contact, theresilient squeegee member preferably being fabricated from a resilientsynthetic or natural rubber andthe resilient connecting elements beingconstructed from stainless steel or the like.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings, wherein likereference characters indicate like or corresponding parts,

FIG. 1 is a sectional view through a controlled device illustrated inaccordance with the present invention, taken approximately on the lineI-I of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a portion of the control structure per se,illustrated in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to the drawings, thereference numeral 1 indicates generally a control device constructed inaccordance with the present invention, disposed adjacent a watercylinder 2 of an offset lithographic press and supported from the watersupply tray 3 thereof.

The control device 1 comprises an elongated base or supporting member 4,which is generally L-shaped in transverse cross-section and thus maycomprise a standard angle member. Carried by the member 4 are aplurality of resilient members 5, constructed, for example, fromsynthetic or natural rubber or the like having a free edge 6 adapted tobear on the adjacent face of the water cylinder 2, with the respectivemembers 5 each being supported from the member 4 by means of a thinmetal element or strip 7, which preferably is of spring stainless steelor the like, with the member 5 being secured to the element 7 by arelatively large headed screw 8 extending through the adjacent portionsof the members 5 and 7 and secured in position by a nut 9 bearing on awasher 10.

The opposite end of each spring strip 7 is provided with a mountingportion 11 extending at right angle to the main body of the strip 7 andsecured to the adjacent wall 12 of the member 4 by means of a screw 13and angle member 14, with the portion 11 of the strip 7 thereby beingclamped between the wall 12 and adjacent wall 15 of the angle member. Aswill be apparent from reference to FIG. 2, each strip 7 preferably issecured to the member 4 by a respective individual angle member 14 andscrew 13, thereby enabling replacement of each member 7 independently ofthe remaining members thereof. Threaded in the outwardly extending wall16 of each of the angle members 14 is a screw 17, the free-end of whichextends through an opening in the associated strip 7 and terminates in aknob 18 rigidly secured to the screw, by means of which the screw may berotated in the wall 16. Thus, by suitable rotation of the knob 18 andthereby the screw 17, the knob 18 may be moved to apply pressure to thestrip 7 and thus to the resilient member 5 for control of the pressureapplied by the free edge 6 of the member 5 to the surface of the watercylinder 2.

Support member 4 preferably is so positioned that when the knob 18applies no pressure to the strip 7 the member 5 will just be out ofengagement with the surface of the cylinder 2 and by rotating the knob18 in a clockwise direction the knob will be moved downwardly applyingpressure to the stip 7 and thus effecting engagement of the edge 6 withthe surface of the water cylinder, with the amount of pressure thereonbeing determined by the adjustment of the knob 18.

The member 4 is adapted to be connected with the tray 3 by a pluralityof metal strips 19, secured by screws 20 to the member 4. The number ofstrips will normally be determined by the length of the cylinder 2, withat least one strip being disposed adjacent each end of the member 4 andas many intermediate strips as it is deemed desirable to provideadequate connection of the member 4. The opposite ends of each strip 19is secured to a corresponding block 21 by means of one or more screws 22extending through the adjacent end of the strip and threaded into theblock. As clearly illustrated in FIG. 1, the block 21 is provided with aslot 22 therein of a size to receive the upper edge of the adjacent sidewall 24 of the water supply tray 3 and clamped in operative positiontherein by means of a screw 25. The supporting member 4 is additionallyretained in operative position by a plurality of like members 26, forexample disposed adjacent each end of the member 4 and if necessary ordesirable with one or more intermediate members being disposed at spaceintervals therebetween. Each member 26 is adapted to be threaded into anadjacent bracket member 14 and locked in position with respect theretoby means of a lock nut 27. The structure thus is suitably supportedindependently of engagement of the members 5 with the water cylinder.

In use each of the members 5 may be suitably adjusted in a normalposition providing a relatively uniform desired amount of water on thesurface of the cylinder 2. Any desired adjustment may then be effectedanywhere along the cylinder by rotation of the appropriate knob 18 forthe member 5 bearing on the area of the cylinder involved, so that theamount of water at such area may be increased or decreased by properrotation of the knob 18. The screw adjustment provided for each ofthe-individual members 5 thus enable a very fine micrometer adjustmentof the pressure of the associated member on the surface of the cylinderto provide the desired adjustment of the amount of water remaining onthe cylinder. If, during operation of the press, the surfacecharacteristics of the cylinder should change, the operator can readilycompensate therefor, at the area involved, by appropriate adjustment.

Replacement of any of the members 5 may be readily achieved by removalof the nut 9 and washer 10 associated therewith, permitting removal ofthe associated member and replacement with a new member. The strips 7,as previously mentioned, may be readily fabricated from stainless steeland the use of stainless steel screws 8, nuts 9 and washers 10, togetherwith resilient members 5 of synthetic rubber or the like, results in avery durable structure which is relatively uneffected by any of thematerials which would normally come in contact therewith. The supportingstructure, comprising members 4 and 14, may be fabricated of anysuitable material, such as stainless steel or brass, stainless steelbeing found to be very effective therefor, and in like manner themounting strips 19, legs 26 and block 21 may be fabricated of brass,stainless steel or other suitable material.

It will be apparent that the width of the members 5 may be varied independence upon the specific application, with a width of from "V8 to 1%inches being deemed suitable for most applications. The knobs 18 may beof any suitable material, as for example a suitable plastic and firmlythreaded down on the free end of each screw to provide a rigidconnection therebetween, with the head of the associated screw forminglimiting means for the screw and preventing the unscrewing thereof fromthe associated bracket 14.

It will be appreciated from the above description that l have provided arelatively very simple construction and yet highly efficient for thepurposes intended which may be readily constructed as an attachment forexisting presses as well as being incorporated in the design of newpresses.

Having thus described my invention it will be obvious that althoughvarious minor modifications might be suggested by those versed in theart, it should be understood that I wish to embody within the scope ofthe patent granted hereon all such modifications as reasonably, andproperly come within the scope of my contribution to the art.

I claim as my invention:

1. A control device for the water cylinder of an offset lithographicprinting press, having a plate cylinder and a water cylinder from whichwater from a cooperable supply is to be transferred to the platecylinder, comprising an elongated support structure having an upper legand a lower leg connected by an intermediate portion of generallyU-shape in transverse cross-section, adapted to be disposed laterallyadjacent such a water cylinder at the side thereof exiting from such asupply, the upper leg of said U-shaped support structure being of lesslength, in transverse cross section, than the lower leg thereof, withthe open end of said U-shaped configuration facing such cylinder, aplurality of resilient strip-like metallic elements, each having acorresponding end disposed in a common plane and mounted on theintermediate portion of said support structure, with such elementsextending in generally parallel relation toward said cylinder but spacedtherefrom, a plurality of cylinder-engaging members, each carried by arespective resilient element at the opposite free end thereof, saidmembers being formed from a pliable rubber-like material and disposed ina row in substantially side-by-side relation and having their outeredges in substantially aligned relation for engagement with the surfaceof such a water cylinder substan tially throughout its operative length,to effect a squeegee action with respect to water disposed on the facethereof, a manually actuatable scriew for each resilient element andcooperable member, extending through the associated element and threadedinto the lower leg of said support structure, each screw including amanually actuatable knob rigidly connected thereto, by means of whichthe screw may be rotated, each knob being adapted to apply pressure onthe upper face of the associated resilient element forflexing the sameto control the pressure of the associated resilient member on thesurface of the cylinder and thereby control the amount of waterthereafter retained on the cylinder and thus ultimately transferredtherefrom to the plate cylinder of such a press.

2. A control device according to claim 1, wherein each of said screws isthreaded into the lower leg of said U-shaped structure and provided witha head at the opposite end thereof from the knob carried thereby, withsuch head disposed at the bottom side of said lower leg, whereby theknob and screw assembly cannot be turned out of the same.

3. A control device according to claim 1, wherein one of the legs ofsaid U-shaped supporting structure comprises an elongated angle member,and the other leg of said U-shaped structure comprises respectiveL-shaped members, disposed in aligned side-by-side relation with the legportions thereof disposed in respective common planes, each of suchL-shaped members having a leg portion disposed in opposed relation withrespect to one leg of said angle member, and cooperable therewith toform the intermediate portion of said U-shaped structure, each of saidresilient elements having the mounted end thereof extending transverselyto the remainder thereof and clamped between said cooperable portions ofsaid angle member and a respective L-shaped member, each such L-shapedmember being individually secured by screw means to the angle member,whereby each resilient element may be 6 detached from the supportingstructure independently of the remainder of said elements.

4. A control device according to claim 3, wherein said L-shaped membersform the lower leg of said support structure, with each of said L-shapedmembers having threaded therein the adjusting screw for the associatedresilient element.

5. A control device according to claim 4, wherein each of said screws isprovided with a head at the opposite end thereof from the knob carriedthereby, with such head disposed at the bottom side of the associatedL-shaped member carrying the same, whereby the knob and screw assemblycannot be turned out of the associated L-shaped member.

6. A control device according to claim 5, comprising in furthercombination, mounting means for attaching the support structure to thewater supply container for the water cylinder of such a press, saidmounting means comprising a plurality of strips, longitudinally spacedalong said supporting structure with each strip secured at one endthereto, and at its opposite end to a cooperable block, each blockhaving a notch therein of a size to receive the adjacent edge of such asupply container, and having screw means adapted to clamp such an edgein said notch.

7. A control device according to claim 6, wherein said mounting meansincludes a leg member carried by said support structure, of a length torest upon the bottom wall of such a supply container, said leg memberbeing threaded into and supported from a portion of the lower leg ofsaid U-shaped support structure.

8. A control device according to claim 6, wherein each resilient memberis attached to the associated resilient element by detachable screwmeans, whereby the resilient member may be readily detached andreplaced.

1. A control device for the water cylinder of an offset lithographicprinting press, having a plate cylinder and a water cylinder from whichwater from a cooperable supply is to be transferred to the platecylinder, comprising an elongated support structure having an upper legand a lower leg connected by an intermediate portion of generallyU-shape in transverse cross-section, adapted to be disposed laterallyadjacent such a water cylinder at the side thereof exiting from such asupply, the upper leg of said U-shaped support structure being of lesslength, in transverse cross section, than the lower leg thereof, withthe open end of said U-shaped configuration facing such cylinder, aplurality of resilient strip-like metallic elements, each having acorresponding end disposed in a common plane and mounted on theintermediate portion of said support structure, with such elementsextending in generally parllel relation toward said cylinder but spacedtherefrom, a plurality of cylinderengaging members, each carried by arespective resilient element at the opposite free end thereof, saidmembers being formed from a pliable rubber-like material and disposed ina row in substantially side-by-side relation and having their outeredges in substantially aligned relation for engagement with the surfaceof such a water cylinder substantially throughout its operative length,to effect a squeegee action with respect to water disposed on the facethereof, a manually actuatable screw for each resilient element andcooperable member, extending through the associated element and threadedinto the lower leg of said support structure, each screw including amanually actuatable knob rigidly connected thereto, by means of whichthe screw may be rotated, each knob being adapted to apply pressure onthe upper face of the associated resilient element for flexing the sameto control the pressure of the associated resilient member on thesurface of the cylinder and thereby control the amount of waterthereafter retained on the cYlinder and thus ultimately transferredtherefrom to the plate cylinder of such a press.
 2. A control deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein each of said screws is threaded into thelower leg of said U-shaped structure and provided with a head at theopposite end thereof from the knob carried thereby, with such headdisposed at the bottom side of said lower leg, whereby the knob andscrew assembly cannot be turned out of the same.
 3. A control deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein one of the legs of said U-shapedsupporting structure comprises an elongated angle member, and the otherleg of said U-shaped structure comprises respective L-shaped members,disposed in aligned side-by-side relation with the leg portions thereofdisposed in respective common planes, each of such L-shaped membershaving a leg portion disposed in opposed relation with respect to oneleg of said angle member, and cooperable therewith to form theintermediate portion of said U-shaped structure, each of said resilientelements having the mounted end thereof extending transversely to theremainder thereof and clamped between said cooperable portions of saidangle member and a respective L-shaped member, each such L-shaped memberbeing individually secured by screw means to the angle member, wherebyeach resilient element may be detached from the supporting structureindependently of the remainder of said elements.
 4. A control deviceaccording to claim 3, wherein said L-shaped members form the lower legof said support structure, with each of said L-shaped members havingthreaded therein the adjusting screw for the associated resilientelement.
 5. A control device according to claim 4, wherein each of saidscrews is provided with a head at the opposite end thereof from the knobcarried thereby, with such head disposed at the bottom side of theassociated L-shaped member carrying the same, whereby the knob and screwassembly cannot be turned out of the associated L-shaped member.
 6. Acontrol device according to claim 5, comprising in further combination,mounting means for attaching the support structure to the water supplycontainer for the water cylinder of such a press, said mounting meanscomprising a plurality of strips, longitudinally spaced along saidsupporting structure with each strip secured at one end thereto, and atits opposite end to a cooperable block, each block having a notchtherein of a size to receive the adjacent edge of such a supplycontainer, and having screw means adapted to clamp such an edge in saidnotch.
 7. A control device according to claim 6, wherein said mountingmeans includes a leg member carried by said support structure, of alength to rest upon the bottom wall of such a supply container, said legmember being threaded into and supported from a portion of the lower legof said U-shaped support structure.
 8. A control device according toclaim 6, wherein each resilient member is attached to the associatedresilient element by detachable screw means, whereby the resilientmember may be readily detached and replaced.